Jonathan Cahn says events leading up to 'duct tape man' incident mirror latest book

Author and Messianic rabbi Jonathan Cahn says a violent encounter with a fellow passenger sitting in first class on an American Airlines flight earlier this month bore an uncanny resemblance to events in his latest book, prompting him to reflect on what he believes was a spiritual battle.

In an interview with The Christian Post, Cahn recounted an intense encounter he had with a fellow passenger on a recent flight from Dallas, Texas, to Newark, New Jersey. He had previously released a video message attributing the exchange to the “forces of darkness” seeking to prevent him from sharing his latest book, The Altar of Pergamon: The Mystery of the Dark Angel and the Future of the World. 

What started as a friendly exchange between Cahn and the fellow passenger Arthur Lundeen quickly deteriorated after Cahn shared the story of his conversion. At this point, Lundeen began directing expletives at Cahn, while “cursing God” and “cursing Jesus.” Cahn previously surmised that what he was experiencing was “the hatred and the rage and the fury of the enemy.”

The confrontation escalated as the two struggled over Cahn’s laptop, with Cahn saying Lundeen struck him and placed him in a chokehold. The incident ended with Lundeen being duct-taped to his seat and the plane making an emergency landing in Baltimore, where he was arrested and now faces charges.

Cahn told CP the incident held deeper significance because it closely mirrored events in The Altar of Pergamon.

He described the book as a “revelation about the enemy” told through a thriller-like story. He said the protagonist encounters a stranger on multiple occasions, beginning with a “friendly conversation” that eventually “turns demonic” as the stranger threatens him.

The similarities do not end there.

Cahn said the protagonist is eventually placed in a chokehold, while another scene involves the character trying to protect his laptop, both of which resemble what happened during Cahn’s flight.

“What’s happening in the airplane is what’s happened in the story,” Cahn said.

Cahn also connected the incident to a Scripture message he had shared with people the weekend before the flight. He said the message centered on Ephesians 6:12: “We wrestle not with flesh and blood but principalities in high places.”

Then, he said, he found himself doing exactly that, but at 30,000 feet.

“I’m literally now wrestling with flesh and blood and … I believe a principality, and I’m in a high place; I’m 30,000 [feet] up,” Cahn said.

Cahn said the experience reinforced his belief that the spiritual conflict described in Scripture is real.

“What the enemy meant for evil God has been using for good,” he said.

Cahn said he was grateful for the opportunity to speak publicly about the incident and its spiritual implications. After being contacted by multiple media outlets about the confrontation, he said he's been able to discuss not only what happened on the plane but also what he believes it represents.

“God is real, this is real, what the Bible says,” Cahn said. “God has been using this.”

Cahn also pointed to increased attention surrounding The Altar of Pergamon as another positive outcome of the incident. He said more people are now aware of the book and suggested that the confrontation might have ultimately drawn attention to its message.

He described the book as something “the enemy so much … doesn’t want you to read that he brought a plane down.”